Pope Francis Emphasizes His Role as Bishop of Rome

From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, after Pope Francis was announced as the new pope, he said, “You know that it was the duty of the Conclave to give Rome a Bishop. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone to the ends of the earth to get one, but here we are. I thank you for your welcome. The diocesan community of Rome now has its Bishop.”

When he addressed the faithful for the first time shortly after his election, many were surprised at how much he emphasized his role as Bishop of Rome.

The Pope's Primacy and the Church's History

The Pope's primacy has long been a contentious issue in the Church's history. The split between the Catholic and Orthodox churches is due not only to theological differences but also to the question of the role of the Pope.

The Pope always had many different titles. The Pope is not only the Vicar of Christ but also the Bishop of Rome. This tradition goes back to the holy apostle Peter, who was the first bishop of Rome after Jesus Christ entrusted him with the task of leading the flock.

There have been 265 successors to Peter, and each of them has held the title of Bishop of Rome and each has been a successor in primacy over the whole Church.

New Document on Papal Primacy and Synodality

Twenty-nine years ago, John Paul II urged a reflection on the nature and exercise of papal primacy. In response, the Vatican presented a study document on June 13, 2024, titled “The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogues and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Unum Sint.” This document, issued by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, examines the ongoing dialogue between Christian Churches regarding the role of the Pope and the exercise of his ministry.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, explained at the press conference, “We have the invitation of Pope John Paul II in 1995. In his encyclical Ut unum sint, he has invited all the churches to enter in a dialogue with him for finding a form of the primacy which will not be an obstacle in the future.”

Synodality and Unity Among Christian Churches

Despite the many churches and Christian denominations today, theological experts have acknowledged the necessity of a unifying ministry at the universal level. Cardinal Koch elaborated, “It’s the balance between primacy and synodality. Sometimes we have the impression that this is contrary: synodal and primacy. And the document says very clearly about all the ecumenical dialogue, this is complementary. We don’t have synodality without primacy and we don’t have primacy without synodality.”

Representatives from other Christian communities also expressed their satisfaction with the new document. The Director of the Anglican Center in Rome, Ian Ernest, said, “As the personal representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I am delighted that one of the most comprehensive and detailed responses to Saint John Paul II's invitation in Ut Unum Sint was given by the House of Bishops of the Church of England in 1997.”

Synodality among the churches, the document argues, could “enable the Churches to listen to one another and start joint discernment and decision-making processes on urgent matters of shared concern.” Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, commented, “Synodality is not just a word of the Catholic Church. No. There are various experiences of solidarity. The various churches have their own way of understanding synodality.”

The document concludes with a proposal from the Dicastery, identifying the most significant suggestions made for a renewed exercise of the ministry of unity of the Bishop of Rome, "recognized by one and all.”

Continuing the Path Toward Christian Unity

Ian Ernest recalled, “Last month the Holy Father Pope Francis mentioned the role of the Bishop of Rome and used the words of Pope Gregory the Great, describing him as the ‘Servant of the Servants of God’, ‘Servus Servorum Dei.’” The Vatican is continuing to work toward the goal that all Christians can walk this path together.

Adapted by Jacob Stein

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